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[Honestly Collins couldn't imagine why anyone in their right mind would come seek him out, except for a warden, so when he opened the door there was no surprise in his expression as he stared out at Zichen. His demeanor remained impassive indefinitely, though his eyes slid towards the little bird on Zichen's shoulder briefly, and back again.]

Yer going ta want ta leave tha li'l one out of here. [He told Zichen with as indifferent a tone as his expression. He did, however, step back as if to invite the other man inside, refusing to fight the inevitable today.] Ain't safe. What do you want?

Edited 2024-04-22 23:06 (UTC)

Are you sure? [Zichen tilts his head, a little at a loss as to what to do with his bird. It's not like he can safely leave them in the corridor.] I thought you might like their voice.

[He hesitates and then uses a talisman to transport his little feathered friend back to his cabin. The poor thing might be rattled, but they should be safe enough.]

I came to talk to you. [Zichen steps into the cabin now.] I believe a lot has happened to you.

Yes. [Collins didn't have to look back into the room to know it wasn't safe for the bird. He didn't have to know where the little weasel was to know it was a danger to the small avian. It would come out of hiding for, what the ermine perceived as, a meal.

The Butcher did not deign to explain any of this since it was not asked.

He scowled and turned away at the blatant use of magic, but there was no verbal objection to it either. He simply turned away and walked back into his room. It was different from the last time that Zichen saw it. It held furniture from the Irishman's own time period and looked more lived in. Though the latter may have just been because he'd spent most of his time in his room the last week or so. It was still sparse. The only recreational objects in the room were records and books lined upon a shelf. Otherwise, it was Spartan.

Collins leaned himself upon the big wooden desk set to one corner of the room and stared impassively at Zichen, arms crossed over his chest.]

You mean I did a lot of nasty things and yer here ta set tha story straight. As if there is a story worth listenin' to.

[He accepts the warning - he won't put his little bird in danger - and sends the owl finch home. The only way he can do so is through magic and he tenses, preparing himself for Collins's backlash.

But it doesn't come. He follows the man into his cabin and looks around, curious at the changes. His cabin is rather sparse too - he doesn't like a lot of clutter - so he can appreciate the layout. It seems to suit Collins's demeanor - especially at the moment. Holding back a small sigh, Zichen shakes his head.]

I am concerned for you. Why did you kill? [Was there a reason or simply an impulse?]

[Collins bared his teeth like a feral dog at the question.]

Because I damn well felt like it! What tha fuck difference does it make? What do ya expect from an Old Scratch but tha worst?

I hope for better. [Expect isn't the right word. They aren't close enough for him to expect anything.] For you. For everyone.

Don't hold yer breath lest you'll die of asphyxiation. [He huffed angrily, already tired of the conversation.] Ain't no cure fer tha devil.

Has this flood been difficult on you? [He shifts the conversation.] I preferred the last one. I came away from it with jade stones, the little bird you saw and a small black snake.

[He scowled at the question but did seem to settle somewhat, physically relaxing. He ignored the actual question when he replied.]

Lots of damn critters from tha previous nonsense. [He waved a hand at his room.] Still got one somewhere around here.

Was it...a weasel? [He thinks he remembers them talking about it. So much has happened that he isn't sure.] Are you leaving food out?

Aye, that's tha one. [He looked amused for a second before shrugging. His tone said 'why should I?' when he continued.] Little bastard killed all tha birds that came prior to him.

He is a fine hunter. [Zichen glances around, a little curious to find the mischievous predator.] Thank you for warning me.

[This time the amusement lingered. He supposed he couldn't disagree with that statement.] Of course.

He's around somewhere, hidin'. Ain't much in here, but he still finds places ta burrow anyway.

They are good at protecting themselves. [Zichen makes an amused sound in his throat.] Since he likes birds, you should put out some chicken to catch him.

They're fierce little beasts fer their size. [He's actually smiling as he says it.] Ah, I laid out a trap fer him back at tha beginning. They ain't scared of anything. Had scratches all up and down me arms, hands.

He's fine where he is. He wants somethin', he'll come at me.

[Zichen winces sympathetically. Oh so that's why.]

He knows how to take care of himself. I would put out a bowl of water for him daily.

[That should be safe enough?]

It's difficult not to respect him. My little snake is quite a hunter too.

Edited 2024-04-26 11:41 (UTC)

[Collins chuckled at Zichen's response.]

I was set ta wring his neck so I can't really blame him fer tha aversion ta me layin' hands on him.

[He had been close to doing it. He had the ermine in hand, head in one and body in the other, ready to snap its neck. He relented out of respect for its fearlessness. It had been cunning and it took time for Collins to capture it, and then it fought with all it could till the end.

Collins is still amazed to this day that he didn't kill it. Put it out of it misery. This wasn't much of a home for a wild animal. But he let it linger. He wouldn't show Zichen in a million years, but there was a little nest where he'd stuffed some soft materials into a low drawer on the desk. And the little creature took it over just as Collins had expected.]

You like all manner of beasts then, hmm? Suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Ya like monsters.

[His expression falls and he shakes his head.]

No, you mustn't. There might be a chance to let him go somewhere else. Being on this Barge isn't permanent for him either.

[Imagining a weasel paying the death toll is heartbreaking! And he would be very pleased if he knew of Collins's thoughtfulness. As it stands, he ends up frowning at the sudden shift in conversation.

Monsters? His lips are set in a thin, unhappy line.]

People can change and your visitor isn't a monster. He is merely acting according to his nature.

I wasn't referrin' to tha little weasel. [He said with a deliberate stare at Zichen.] He's just an animal.

So you are still concerned about my situation. [He lets out a small exhale.] I killed him, as I told you. I am Daoist. I believe in relinquishing my hatred once justice has been seen to.

Well he should remain dead fer it ta mean anything! What's worse, ya've taken a shine ta him as if that's natural. Yer such a fuckin' idiot. It ain't natural at all!

[He'd seen it in the war first, prisoners forming unhealthy bonds with their captors. Then he'd learned to perfect it himself, using it as an art to torture his prey then make them fond of him for stopping as if he had taken pity on them. He told them some fake sob story to gain empathy. Worked like a charm. If they wouldn't speak from the torture, they would when a sympathetic bond was formed. He got what he needed from them, and then killed them, disposing of them like the broken trash that they were.]

It ain't natural. Just a lie bein' acted out.

That wasn't his fate. [Nor was it his. Zichen has no control of such things, so why pretend otherwise?] I allowed him a chance for redemption. He is the one who worked on transforming himself. He is the one who graduated.

[Their grief over Xiao Xingchen had brought them together, true, but their bond has grown over the passing months. Zichen has always been clear: if Xue Yang kills again (and it has nothing to do with defense) he will kill him.]

He knows the punishment for lying.

[He chuckled darkly.] And it doesn't bother you that some bastard with unnatural powers gets ta decide--arbitrarily I might add--when a person "finds redemption" here? As if a scorpion can change it's nature.

That's not his purview!

I knew he was ready for graduation long before it happened. [So he actually agreed with the Admiral on that one.] Nothing is perfect, but Xue Yang is not the man he was when he first arrived. I don't believe he will hurt anyone.

[There was something hurt and scared shining in the Butcher's eyes for the briefest of moments. Blink and you miss it.

That was not what he wanted, and he feared this place would have it's way with him despite his stubborn set. After all, he knew the affects of torture best of all.]

Keep lyin' to yerself, lad, and one day you'll believe it.

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